Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1275680
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 AUGUST 2020 NEWS Coronavirus PRIME Minister Robert Abela will be meeting with Malta Council for Economic and Social Development in order to discuss the country's position in light of the COIVD-19 pandemic. A statement by the Office of the Prime Minister said the decision was taken following a cabinet meeting, after the MCESD ex- pressed its desire in being given more information on the current situation and the way forward. "While government through the office of the deputy pm and health minister Chris Fearne is commit- ted to continue in its talks with the Malta Medical Association and other unions, the PM will be giving a factual update to the MCESD on Thursday," the state- ment read. Government stressed the situa- tion is under control, and assured people it will continue to take the necessary decisions in a mature and balanced manner. It also said it will continue safe guarding the people's health by strengthening the economy, which in turn improves the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitan families. Government says the COVID-19 situation is under control and will meet social partners tomorrow to discuss the way forward Robert Abela calls meeting with social partners over COVID-19 situation LAURA CALLEJA THE Medical Association of Mal- ta (MAM) said it was unfair for Prime Minister Robert Abela to blame rescued migrants for the spike of COVID-19 cases. The association was reacting to comments made by Abela on Monday during a One TV inter- view on Pjazza. The MAM argued that it was the government's decision to al- low mass events, going against the advance of experts as well as the Superintendent for Public Health which caused the spike and not migrants who were quarantined immediately. "In fact the European centre for disease control data does not include migrant data. Please find attached the graphic trends of this data which shows a clear spike in the last two weeks following the organisation of mass events," MAM said. Last week MAM along with the nurses' union threatened indus- trial action unless the govern- ment took action and halted mass events. The action was suspended after talks with the health minis- try. The government has since said it plans to quarantine migrants with COVID-19 at sea and has since issued a call for the supply of vessels. Currently, 88 migrants have tested positive; from two groups that arrived in Malta last week. Originally, the migrants who tested positive were not included in the island's official COVID-19 figures, however, from Friday the numbers were included follow- ing the advice from the European Centre for Disease Control. 'Deeply concerned' by remarks made by PM – Repubblika Similarly, Repubblika also shared its concern for the PM's remarks. The NGO said the in- crease of people testing positive was generally due to people who had contracted the ideas locally from persons who were circulat- ing freely. "The number of 'total cases' of COVID-19 includes migrants rescued at sea that have tested positive. But these patients are immediately isolated and have contributed nothing at all to the spread of the disease locally. By laying the blame on them, the Prime Minister risks inciting ra- cial prejudice." Repubblika said that none of the migrants had attended the Santa Venera festa, the Radisson Ho- tel party, Paceville nightclubs or any other mass gatherings that had produced known clusters of COVID-19 cases. "This means that the local spread of COVID-19 is not a result of mi- grants rescued at sea. It is a result of the policies of Prime Minister Robert Abela who has re-opened Malta to travel from points of origin (like the UK, France and Spain) where Covid-19 numbers are rising again, and has permit- ted parties, festas, night clubs and mass gatherings at the same time." The NGO said that it seemed that as a result of these politics, the government has lost control of the situation. "To rein it back in, the govern- ment may need to prepare the public for punitive restrictions which it would not want to be blamed for. The restrictions that may need to be introduced may have a devastating impact on our economy, the education of our children and our way of life, and could have been at least in part avoided had the government not rushed to open up prematurely the country to inbound travel and mass gatherings and parties," Re- pubblika said. Unfair of Prime Minister to blame COVID spike on migrants, doctors' union says Robert Abela